Category Archives: appetizers & salads

Fish tagine in Tahina sauce


fish tajine in tahina sauce |marmite et ponpon

A very simple recipe where Tahina is the main ingredient for the sauce, in which the baked fish will bathe. Onion and lemon juice come to add the deep flavor and sour kick. The added bonus here are the roasted almonds and pine nuts that creates the contrast with its crunchiness.

Whether you are planning to serve it as an appetizer or main dish, you will have everyone licking their lips in anticipation.

fish tagine in tahina sauce |marmite et ponpon

You will need:

  • 500g fish fillet or whole fish to be baked, could be sea bass, hamour or red snapper or any available white fish of your choice.
  • 1 cup tahina (sesame paste)
  • 1 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tbsp lemon
  • 2 medium onion cut a la julienne
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • salt to taste
  • roasted almonds and pine nuts for topping
  • chopped coriander for garnish

fish tagine in tahina sauce |marmite et ponpon

First start by oven baking the fish. Set aside the fillets (or deboned whole fish) to prepare the sauce.

Cook the onion with olive oil until tender, keep stirring while cooking as you don’t want them to brown. In a bowl mix together tahina, water, lemon and salt before pouring over the onion, you want the sauce a bit runny because it will thicken a bit while on heat. When you see the first bubble forming, turn off the heat and stir in the fish.

On a serving plate, sprinkle the top with roasted almonds and pine nuts. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve. You can have it warm, at room temperature or cold.

fish tagine in tahina sauce |marmite et ponpon

If you want to eat like a lebanese, then serve it with pita bread to seal the deal.

fish tagine in tahina sauce |marmite et ponpon

A middle eastern/Lebanese specialty dish that’s full of flavors with few ingredients. If  you never cooked your fish this way, you should consider trying marmite et ponpon recipe and you will never regret.

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

fish tagine in tahina sauce |marmite et ponpon

Fatteh hummos – chickpeas, yogurt and pita


fattet-hummos-chickpeas-yogurt-and-pitamarmite-et-ponpon

Fatteh, a wholesome levantine dish, varies from one country to other; could be vegetarian or featuring meat, but the main ingredients are chickpeas, yogurt and crushed toasted pita.

The arabic word “Fatteh”means “crushed”, so fatteh or fattet hummos has its name after the crushed toasted pita and so other middle eastern dishes with crushed toasted pita like “Fattoush”.

For this simple dish yet flavorful you will need: (yield two portions)

  • 3 pitas toasted and crushed in medium pieces
  • 500g yogurt (or two cups)
  • 2 tbsp tahina
  • 1tsp salt
  • 2 cups chickpeas boiled
  • 1 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves crushed

For garnish:

  • 50g butter
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • chopped parsley or mint for decoration

fattet-hummos-chickpeas-yogurt-and-pitamarmite-et-ponpon

You first start with a layer of toasted pitas, some people likes it fried, but i prefer to keep it light and healthy.

After boiling the chickpeas, or if you are using canned ones, add the garlic (cloves or powder) while it’s still hot and pour it over the bread, of course after removing its water.

To prepare the yogurt sauce, mix it with tahina and salt then top the chickpeas with it. Fry the pine nuts with butter and drizzle over the yogurt and garnish with finely chopped parsley or mint.

fattet-hummos-chickpeas-yogurt-and-pitamarmite-et-ponpon

It can be served as healthy breakfast, appetizer or main dish. You can always save leftovers in the fridge as you can eat it cold, at room temperature or hot. There are many variations to it, but this way is my favorite. Some people add lemon juice to the yogurt, fry the pitas or add cumin powder to the chickpeas, fried ground beef or chicken… no harm in trying!

This vegetarian version is very easy and quick especially if you are using canned chickpeas, it will be served on your table in less than 20 minutes. It’s an ideal dish to keep you full for a long time during lent, for people abstaining from meat.

fattet-hummos-chickpeas-yogurt-and-pitamarmite-et-ponpon

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

fattet-hummos-chickpeas-yogurt-and-pitamarmite-et-ponpon

Spinach, leek and cheddar cheese quiche with tips for successful baking


leek-spinach-and-cheddar-cheese-quichemarmite-et-ponpon

❤ QUICHE ❤ , this glorious meal at any time of the day, starting from breakfast to dinner. Served hot, cold or room temperature and packed with rich flavorful ingredients from veggies to meats and heaps of cheeses, bathing in a custard of eggs and cream. Baked in the most buttery and flaky crust, could be bought ready made or if you wish for a homemade one, like i do, check marmite et ponpon recipe along with some advises to get the best pâte brisée ever!

The most important, it doesn’t require too much preparation and whichever you choose to make it’s always a hit.

spinach-leek-and-cheddar-cheese-quichemarmite-et-ponpon

Spinach, leek and cheddar cheese quiche. For a 9″ (22cm) quiche you will need:

  • 3/4 cup leek, or one large stalk chopped coarsely
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped spinach (baby leaves fresh or thawed if frozen)
  • 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 large eggs (or 4 medium)
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • salt to taste

Cook leek, spinach and garlic powder with olive oil until fragrant. Set aside to mix with cream, eggs and cheese. Pour in a precooked pie (for 20 minutes in 180°C oven), to ensure a crisp and flaky texture. Bake in the oven for almost 30 minutes or until golden brown.

spinach-leek-and-cheddar-cheese-quichemarmite-et-ponpon

The best quiche consists of the perfect ratio between eggs and milk. Using too many eggs results in a rubbery and firm quiche. Not using enough eggs will prevent the filling from setting. Remember 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy. That’s why in this quiche i used 3 eggs fro 1 1/2 cup of cream.

If you are adding fillings like vegetables, make sure they are as dry as possible. For instance, if you are using thawed spinach, squeeze them to get out as much as you can from its remaining water.

For a perfectly cooked quiche, bake it until the edges are set, but it still wobbles a little in the center (for a creamy and silky texture). It will take 30 to 40 minutes in a 180°C oven.

spinach-leek-and-cheddar-cheese-quichemarmite-et-ponpon

If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

spinach-leek-and-cheddar-cheese-quichemarmite-et-ponpon

Sup up your sandwich 5 – Boursin cheese,spinach and strawberry


boursin-cheese-spinach-and-strawberry-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

Many of you find no time to cook dinner after long days at work, with kids or simply not fan of cooking. Sandwiches come to rescue the situation and satisfy your cravings; You can sup up any simple sandwich to become a consistent delicious meal. Not just that, it’s a pleasure to the eye also with all these colors blend.

Today’s sandwich in the makeover series, could serve you for breakfast as well; it is packed with nutrients and rich in compounds such as fibers (spinach), omega 3 fats (walnut), antioxidants (olive oil) and vitamins.

boursin-cheese-spinach-and-strawberry-sandwich

Did you know that the anthocyanin in the strawberry boost the short term memory by 100% in eight weeks? I think i will be hooked on strawberries for the next eight weeks!

To make this super sandwich you will need:

  • Viennoise bread, or any type you favor
  • Boursin cheese (nature)
  • handful spinach baby leaves (6-7)
  • green leaf lettuce (2-3)
  • 4-5 walnuts
  • 2-3 strawberry sliced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Olive oil supplementation was found to positively affect the thickness of bones. It helps in the absorption of calcium in your body. I love how we Lebanese, and specifically our moms, do things by nature, like adding olive oil to a Labneh sandwich without having this knowledge. And many others examples that makes me feel proud of our healthy cuisine… Back to our sandwich, drizzling the olive oil on your Boursin cheese will help you benefit from the calcium in it and add a delicious taste.

boursin-cheese-spinach-and-strawberry-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

boursin-cheese-spinach-and-strawberry-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

If you are not fan of Boursin cheese, try it with goat or cottage cheese, they can both give you this pleasure! You will love this flavorful and fresh sandwich.

If you like the idea of the sandwich makeovers, stay tuned for the next post with another delicious, quick and healthy choice.

Don’t forget to give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More posts are yet to come.

boursin-cheese-spinach-and-strawberry-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

Sup up your sandwich 4 – Italian sub


italian-sub-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

Many of you find no time to cook dinner after long days at work, with kids or simply not fan of cooking. Sandwiches come to rescue the situation and satisfy your cravings; You can sup up any simple sandwich to become a consistent delicious meal. Not just that, it’s a pleasure to the eye also with all these colors blend.

All you need is the right and a smarter choice of pairing your sandwich ingredients. Today’s fourth option of sandwich makeover is Italian sub.

  • Italian bread (or sub bread)
  • Swiss cheese slices
  • Salami, i chose the one with cracked peppers
  • Turkey breast slices, i chose it smoked with herbs
  • Lettuce, green leaf type
  • Tomato slices
  • Pickles (cornichon)
  • Onion
  • Mayo – ketchup sauce

italian-sub-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

To build up your sandwich start by

  • a layer of Swiss cheese, i used emmental slices, heat it in the oven to melt (optional)
  • then a layer of turkey, as i mentioned above, i used the smoked one with herbs
  • followed by salami, i like the one that comes with cracked pepper,
  • onion, cut them rondelles shape
  • lettuce, i used the green leaf one
  • tomato slices, you can take a bit of its juice and seeds if you find it a lot juicy
  • and pickles, homemade cornichons prepared by my mum
  • Finally mix 1 tbsp of mayo with 1/2 tbsp of ketchup to spread it on the top layer of the bread to seal the deal.

italian-sub-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

italian-sub-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

You can serve it immediately or warm it a bit in the oven if you like the bread a bit crispy. With a side salad it makes a nice meal.

I am sure this sandwich is going to be on your to do list, it’s one of my favorite full of flavors awe sub. You can make your own, adding black olives, green peppers or removing onion if they aren’t your thing! Feel free to add or omit as per your taste.

italian-sub-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon

If you like the idea of the sandwich makeovers, stay tuned for the next post with another delicious, quick and healthy choices.

Don’t forget to give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More posts are yet to come.

italian-sub-sandwich-marmite-et-ponpon